Search and find articles and topics quickly and accurately!  See different advanced ways to search for articles on this site.

Rebuttal to Shamoun's and Katz' "Sinking to Dead Sea Levels" article:

The following article is a rebuttal to http://www.answering-islam.org/Responses/Osama/dead_sea.htm.

Below, the reader will clearly see how Sam Shamoun and Jochen Katz:

1-  Contradicted and refuted themselves on the topic of the Hadiths.

2-  Fabricated a desperate lie to cover up for the humiliating documentations that we've post on our web site regarding Sam Shamoun's toilet mouth - a mouth that is as low as a toilet because of all of the countless and graphic foul rubbish that it utters.

3-  They lies by fabricating a quote on my mouth which I have exposed below.

They wrote:

Osama Abdallah is really trying hard to redeem himself after his humiliating loss in our debate on the subject of whether Muhammad was a true prophet (here).

My response:

The sub-sections here are:

1-  Their own quote refutes their claim.
2-  What is their real motive for making this personal?

Osama Abdallah is not trying to redeem himself because he has destroyed your lies and absurdities at: www.answering-christianity.com/is_muhammad_true_prophet.htm.  And as to me getting humiliated in the debate, well, anyone who listens to the debate will clearly see that I have thoroughly demonstrated, through quoting ample quotes from the Bible's theologians' commentaries, that the Bible's authors are unknown and were not the original Prophets of GOD Almighty.  I also gave many Bible-verses contradicting each others - proving that the Bible is not the Pure and True Word of GOD Almighty because GOD Almighty's Holy Words can not contain contradictions in them, let alone countless contradictions and errors as we have thoroughly documented on the site.  Sam Shamoun literally remained silent to all of these devastating charges.

I also demonstrated that a person (Jesus) who ran for his life from King Herod to Egypt can not be the Creator of the Universe.  Sam Shamoun again remained silent on this charge.

I also thoroughly demonstrated that Shamoun's stories that he quoted were written 200-300 years after Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) natural death.  Therefore, whether they were good stories or bad stories (everything is relative to the person's perspective and point of view), they were nonetheless not accurate either way because of the major time-gap.

1-  Their own quote refutes their claim:

Ironically, Shamoun and Katz both agree with this in their own quote below:

"After all, appealing to secondary sources which were compiled some 100-200 years after the death of Muhammad proves that the Quran is not a complete record and to accurately understand it one needs to consult highly questionable sources; materials which were not written during the time these events allegedly took place."

So not only they're liars for saying that I lost a "humiliating loss" in the debate, but they are also dumb because their own quotes refute their own points.

Can you find something more hilarious than this?

To the reader, please visit the following link for clarification:

What Hadiths and Bible verses do I believe are closest to the Truth, and Why?

2-  What is their real motive for making this personal?

Just a few days ago, I have posted a devastating article that further embarrassed and exposed Sam Shamoun's foul mouth - this time not with actual graphic and foul quotes as we have documented countless of them, but posting Sam Shamoun's response to our documentations and further exposing how stupid (pardon my language) and low-life this foul-mouthed scum truly is.

To the reader, please visit our new article at: http://www.answering-islam.com/shamouns_ludicrous_response.htm.

Feeling deeply helpless and enraged, the two con artists found no other choice but to resort to a new lie in a hope to deceive the reader.  But their lies all stop here!

They wrote:

Just recently he has posted an article where he seeks to prove that Q. 30:2-4 is not only a genuine prophecy, but also scientifically correct, thereby vindicating Muhammad.

Here is the text in question:

The Roman Empire has been defeated - in a land close by (fee adna al-ardi): But they, (even) after (this) defeat of theirs, will soon be victorious - within a few years. Y. Ali

Is it the Dead Sea?

O. Abdallah insists that the correct translation of adna al-ardi should be "lowest land on the earth," not "in a land close by." Abdallah feels that adna means lowest whereas ardi with the definite article al refers to the entire earth, not just a specific land per se.

My response:

(the definite article issue is dealt with few sections below)

So not only we're dealing with con artists here, but we're also dealing with total ignorants in the Arabic language.  There is nothing wrong with that if they both don't speak Arabic, but when they purposely ignore the Noble Verses that I provided that clearly and indisputably proved my claim, then the matter becomes quite different.  Ignorance is not an excuse that can be given to them, because the Truth was made manifest to them.  It is rather lying and deceiving the reader and twisting the meanings of the Arabic words and the Noble Quran is the more proper thing to say about them.

With this said, let us look at the evidence that I have already provided in the article with one dedicated section for it:

From http://www.answering-islam.com/lowest_land_miracle.htm:

2-  More proofs from more Noble Verses regarding the word "lowest" (ادنى):

In Arabic, when "el" is added to the noun, it makes the entire statement a generalizing one.  Similar to English, when we say THE EARTH, we are referring to the entire planet.  When Allah Almighty Said: في ادنى الارض  and added "el" to EARTH before the word  ادنى , He clearly and indisputably made the meaning of   ادنى  to be measured against the entire earth's other areas.  في ادنى الارض  LITERALLY means in the lowest spot/area on earth.

If "el" was not added to earth, then the meaning of the term would be in the lowest spot of the area.  This would limit the term only to the lands near where the battle took place.  But since Allah Almighty added "EL" to earth, making it THE EARTH in English, then this makes the term go against the entire earth and not just a limited area.

Here are more proofs that the word  ادنى  means lowest from the Noble Quran:

‏32:21 ولنذيقنهم من العذاب الادنى دون العذاب الاكبر لعلهم يرجعون

‏58:7 الم تر ان الله يعلم مافي السماوات ومافي الارض مايكون من نجوى ثلاثة الا هو رابعهم ولاخمسة الا هو سادسهم ولاادنى من ذلك ولااكثر الا هو معهم اين ماكانوا ثم ينبئهم بما عملوا يوم القيامة ان الله بكل شئ عليم

The Noble Verses translate as follows:

They wrote:

In light of these assertions Abdallah argues that this so-called prophecy is an example of the Quran’s prescience in that it correctly identifies the Dead Sea as the lowest point of the earth. Abdallah translates a passage from a book which identifies the unnamed land mentioned in the Quran as the Dead Sea and also provides several sources which affirm that this is in fact the lowest spot on the earth:

After the (scientists') geological sweeping of the planet earth, the scientists discovered that the lowest land-area on earth is the area of the dead sea, and the dead sea's water reduces approximately 380 meters.  And when the Romans were defeated IN THIS LAND, the following Noble Verses were revealed:

O. Abdallah is trying to pull a fast one over his readers since he deceptively claims that the land that the Quran is referring to is actually the Dead Sea. The fact is that the Quran never mentions the name of the land and none of the Muslim scholars that we consulted believed that it refers to the Dead Sea. Quotations from these scholars will be given later.

Moreover, even though there are certain Islamic sources that do mention Jerusalem, this doesn’t help Abdallah since, unlike the Dead Sea, it is way above sea level and is definitely not the lowest part of the earth! For instance, Abdallah cites a few sources which say that the Dead Sea is roughly 1000 (or approximately 1,373) feet below sea level. Jerusalem, however, is roughly 2500 feet ABOVE sea level (Wikipedia)!

Since Abdallah claims that the Arabic phrase, fee adna al-ardi, literally means "in the lowest land on earth" he has basically proven that Muhammad was a false prophet since he mistakenly assumed that Jerusalem was the lowest part of the earth!

In his written debate with Nadir Ahmed, the former Muslim turned agnostic Ali Sina used the same argument against a similar claim:

Mr. Ahmed claims that the word near (Adna) can also be translated as lower and hence the above could be read: The Roman Empire was defeated in the lowest land ... Then Mr. Ahmad claims that since the Black Sea is it the lowest point on earth (1300 ft bellow sea level) then Muhammad has said something that no one could have known.

This is of course wishful thinking of a deluded believer and the absurdity of that is self-evident. The Romans were not defeated in the Red Sea but in Jerusalem and Jerusalem is above sea level. If we had to take Mr. Ahmed for his word and disregard the obvious meaning of the word, this verse would have become yet another blunder of Muhammad. However all the interpreters of the Quran have translated the verse correctly. If Muhammad really wanted to impress his readers he could have easily said that the Red Sea is the lowest land on Earth. Note that the verse is mentioning land and not sea. Muhammad is talking about the Jerusalem and not about the Red Sea. (Source)

Although Sina mistakenly refers to the Black and Red Seas, his point still applies to Abdallah’s argument.

Hence, what Abdallah thought was a definite proof for Muhammad’s prophethood ends up being a strong argument against him, serving to expose him as a false prophet! Wonderful work, Mr. Abdallah, we highly encourage you to keep it up.

With the foregoing behind us, we proceed to unpack some additional problems with Abdallah’s points.

My response:

The sub-sections here are:

1-  Allah Almighty's use of "fi" (in) and not "ala" (on).
2-  Proofs that the northern part of the Middle East is the lowest spot on earth!

My quote above (in dark green) was a translation of a quote taken from Dr. Zaghlool Al-Naggar's web site - a world-wide renowned Geologist and is considered one of the world's top 7 Geologist, which stated that the lands around the dead sea are considered the lowest in terms of altitude on earth.  It is in these lands the Romans were defeated.  So when Allah Almighty Says "fee adna al-ard," and we 1500 years ago find out that the land is indeed the lowest land on earth, then we are left with no choice but to accept this great Divine Statement as a Scientific Notion as many others exist in the Noble Quran which we have documented only some of them on our web site.

So if I only prove that the area of Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine is, or does contain, the lowest spot on earth, then my argument is done and your objection is refuted.

1-  Allah Almighty's use of "fi" (in) and not "ala" (on):

The fact that Allah Almighty used the word "in" and not "on," proves that He spoke about a region and not an exact precise spot.  Allah Almighty Noble Verses 30:2-3 talked about the region/area that the battle took place in as the lowest spot on earth.

The following Noble Verses clearly prove that "fi" (in) in the Noble Quran encompasses a bigger region:

1-  ‏2:29 هو الذي خلق لكم مافي الارض جميعا ثم استوى الى السماء فسواهن سبع سماوات وهو بكل شئ عليم

"It is He Who hath created for you all things that are on earth; Moreover His design comprehended the heavens, for He gave order and perfection to the seven firmaments; and of all things He hath perfect knowledge.  (The Noble Quran, 2:29)"

This Noble Verse is talking about everything that exists on and inside mother earth was created by Allah Almighty.  Allah Almighty used the word "fi" in reference to everything, especially the "everything" that people 1500 years ago saw with their eyes, which were above earth.

2-  ‏2:30 واذ قال ربك للملائكة اني جاعل في الارض خليفة قالوا اتجعل فيها من يفسد فيها ويسفك الدماء ونحن نسبح بحمدك ونقدس لك قال اني اعلم مالاتعلمون

"Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: "I will create a vicegerent on earth." They said: "Wilt Thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood?- whilst we do celebrate Thy praises and glorify Thy holy (name)?" He said: "I know what ye know not."  (The Noble Quran, 2:30)"

This Noble Verse is talking about Allah Almighty creating a ruler that will rule everything on earth.  The use of "fi" in this Noble Verse clearly shows that He, the Almighty, referred to the entire earth and not just little parts of it here and there.

3-  ‏2:11 واذا قيل لهم لاتفسدوا في الارض قالوا انما نحن مصلحون

"And when it is said to them, `Create not disorder in the earth,' they say `We are only promoters of peace.'  (The Noble Quran, 2:11)"

4-  ‏2:27 الذين ينقضون عهد الله من بعد ميثاقه ويقطعون ماامر الله به ان يوصل ويفسدون في الارض اولئك هم الخاسرون

"Who breaks the covenant of ALLAH after having established it, and cut asunder what ALLAH has bidden to be joined, and create disorder in the earth; it is these that are the losers.  (The Noble Quran, 2:27)"

Earth in the Noble Quran is both singular and plural.  "fi al-ard" means in the lands.  In other words, do not go spread evil and sin to every nation and/or tribe that you run into.

And so on....

2-  Proofs that the northern part of the Middle East is the lowest spot on earth!

As I have clearly proven above, when Allah Almighty said في ادنى الارض , He Said: "in the lowest of the earth" --OR-- "in the lowest part on earth" in Noble Verses 30:2-3.

Let us now look at the geological evidence that proves that the northern part of the Middle East is indeed the lowest part on earth:

1-  From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Sea#In_Islam:

(This link was forwarded to me by brother Mahir Karaosmanovic; may Allah Almighty always be pleased with him)

2-  From http://www.miraclesofthequran.com/predictions_01.html:

INTRODUCTION Another miraculous aspect of the Qur'an is its prediction of future events, all of which have so far been fulfilled. This is one of the proofs that the Qur'an is the Word of Allah. In the following pages, we will dwell on some of these events. THE VICTORY OF BYZANTIUM An astonishing prediction is found in the first verses of Surat ar-Rum, which refers to the Byzantine Empire, the eastern part of the later Roman Empire: The Byzantine Empire, which had met with a great defeat, would soon gain victory. Alif, Lam, Mim. The Romans have been defeated in the lowest land, but after their defeat they will be victorious within three to nine years. The affair is Allah's from beginning to end. On that day, the believers will rejoice. (Qur'an, 30:1-4) These verses were revealed around 620, almost 7 years after the idolatrous Persians had severely defeated Christian Byzantium in 613-14. In fact, Byzantium had suffered such heavy losses that it seemed impossible for it even to survive, let alone be victorious again. Following their defeat of the Byzantines at Antioch in 613, the Persians seized control of Damascus, Cilicia, Tarsus, Armenia, and Jerusalem. The loss of Jerusalem in 614 was particularly traumatic for the Byzantines, for the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was destroyed and the Persians seized the "True Cross," the symbol of Christianity.174 In addition, the Avars, Slavs, and Lombards also were posing serious threats to the Byzantine Empire. The Avars had reached as far as the walls of Constantinople. Emperor Heraclius ordered the gold and silver in churches to be melted and turned into money in order to meet the army's expenses. When this proved insufficient, bronze statues were melted down in order to mint more money. Many governors had revolted against Heraclius, and Byzantium was on the point of collapse.175 Mesopotamia, Cilicia, Syria, Palestine, Egypt and Armenia, which had earlier belonged to Byzantium, were invaded by the idolatrous Persians.176 The Dead Sea basin where Byzantium was defeated by Persians. Above is a satellite photograph of the region. The Lake of Lut region, which is the lowest region of the world, is 395 meter below the sea level. In short, everyone was expecting Byzantium to be destroyed. But during this time, the first verses of Surat ar-Rum were revealed, announcing that Byzantium would triumph in 3 to 9 years. This predicted victory seemed so impossible that the Arab polytheists thought it would never come true. On top a satellite photograph of the Dead Sea basin. The altitude of the Dead Sea could only be determined with modern measurement techniques. These measurements led to the discovery that this region is the "lowest region on the Earth." Like all the other predictions in the Qur'an, however, this one also came true. In 622, Heraclius gained a number of victories over the Persians and conquered Armenia.177 In December 627, the two empires fought a decisive battle at Nineveh, some 50 kilometres east of the Tigris river, near Baghdad. This time too, the Byzantine army defeated the Persians. A few months later, the Persians had to sue for peace with Byzantium, which obliged them to return the territories they had taken from it.178 The Byzantine victory was completed when Emperor Heraclius defeated the Persian ruler Khosrow II in 630, recaptured Jerusalem, and regained the "True Cross" for the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.179 In the end, "the victory of the Romans" proclaimed by Allah in the Qur'an miraculously came true within the verses' stated "three to nine years" time frame. Another miracle revealed in these verses is the announcement of a geographical fact that could not have been known by anyone at that time: that the Romans had been defeated in the lowest region of Earth. This Arabic expression adna al-Ard is interpreted as "a nearby place" in many translations. However, this is not the literal meaning, but rather a figurative interpretation. The word adna, derived from the word dani (low), means “the lowest”. The word ard means “the world.” Therefore, adna al-ard means "the lowest place on Earth." Some interpreters of the Qur'an, considering the closeness of the region in question to the Arabs, prefer the "closest" meaning of the word. However, the actual meaning indicates a very important geological fact: The Dead Sea, one of the regions in which the Byzantines were defeated in 613-14, is the lowest region on Earth.180 As stated earlier, for Christian Byzantium, the loss of the True Cross was the heaviest blow in that defeat in Jerusalem, located near the shores of the Dead Sea. The Byzantines and the Persians actually fought at the Dead Sea basin, which is situated at the intersection point of the lands belonging to Syria, Palestine, and Jordan. At 399 meters below sea level, the Dead Sea is the "lowest" place on Earth's surface.181 However, as only modern measuring methods and equipment can prove this fact, it would have been impossible for anyone living at that time to realise this truth. Yet, the Qur'an states clearly that this region was the "lowest land" on Earth and thereby provides further evidence that it is the Word of Allah. 174. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heraclius. 175. Warren Treadgold, A History of the Byzantine State and Society (Palo Alto, CA: Stanford University Press: 1997), 287-99. 176. Ibid. 177. http://fstav.freeservers.com/emperors/heraclius.html. 178. Treadgold, A History, 287-99. 179. http://web.genie.it/utenti/i/inanna/livello2-i/mediterraneo-1-i.htm; http://impearls.blogspot.com/2003_12_07_impearls_archive.html; and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heraclius. 180. “The Lowest Part on the Face of the Earth,”www.beconvinced.com/science/QURANLOWEST.htm. 181. “Dead Sea,” World Book Encyclopedia, 2003, Contributor: Bernard Reich, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science and International Affairs, George Washington University

3-  From http://www.islamweb.net/ver2/archive/article.php?lang=E&id=47513:

".....When we investigated the lowest part of the earth, we found that it was exactly the same spot that witnessed the battle in which the Romans were defeated. When we informed Professor Palmer about this, he contested saying that there were many other areas, which are lower than the one referred to in the Qur'anic verse. He gave examples and names of other areas in Europe and in the United States. We assured him that our information was verified and correct. He had with him a topographical globe that showed elevations and depressions.

He said that it would be easy with that globe to ascertain which was the lowest spot on earth. He turned the globe with his hands and focused his sign on the area near Jerusalem. To his astonishment, there was a small arrow sticking out towards that area with words: "the lowest part on the face of the earth."

Professor Palmer was quick to concede that our information was correct. He proceeded to speak, as you now see him with the globe, saying that this was actually the lowest part of the earth....."

4-  From http://www.crystaldeadsea.com/dead_sea.htm:

Dead Sea Facts:

• The lowest spot on earth 417 meters (1,373 feet) below sea level.

 
The sunset touching distant hills with ribbons of fire across the water of the Dead Sea brings a sense of unreality to culminate a day's visit to the lowest spot on earth, some 400 meters (1000 feet) below sea level.

5-  From http://www.aquatours.com/jordan/deadsea.htm:

On the shore of the historic Dead Sea, at the lowest spot on earth, stands the unique 5 star Mövenpick Resort & Spa. The resort`s close-to-nature, traditional stone village ambience enhances a world of enchantment.

6-  From http://www.dead-sea.net/f-cosmetics.htm:

The Dead Sea is the lowest spot on earth. It is also the richest in concentrated natural minerals, making the area a world - renowned natural health spa. The ancient world knew of the area's wondrous curative properties and throughout the ages people from the four corners of the earth have enjoyed its benefits.

7-  From http://www.einbokek.com/deadsea.htm:

At 400 meters (1300 ft.) below sea level, it is the lowest spot on earth. Part of the 6000km Great African Rift Valley. 55km long by 17.5km. at its widest point, with a depth of up to 400m., this inland sea is flanked by the Judean Hills to the west and by the Mountains of Moab in Jordan to the east. Although fed by rivers in Israel and Jordan, as well as springs and winter floods, no water flows out of the Dead Sea. Instead it evaporates in the high temperatures, twice the amount of water entering, leaving one of the world's greatest concentrations of minerals, which supplies vast amounts of raw chemicals for industry, agriculture and medicine; these are extracted, processed and exported all over the world by the Dead Sea Works at Sedom.

Let us now look at the geological evidence that proves that the northern part of the Middle East is indeed the lowest part on earth:

8-  From http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761574726/Asia.html:

Asia

Encyclopedia Article
........
The continental mainland stretches from the southern end of the Malay Peninsula to Cape Chelyuskin in Siberia. Its westernmost point is Cape Baba in northwestern Turkey, and its easternmost point is Cape Dezhnyov in northeastern Siberia. The continent’s greatest width from east to west is 8,500 km (5,300 mi). The lowest and highest points on the Earth’s surface are in Asia, namely, the SHORE of the Dead Sea (408 m/1,340 ft below sea level in 1996) and Mount Everest (8,850 m/29,035 ft above sea level).

9-  From http://216.81.76.214/?page=topics_israel:

The Kinneret and Golan:

Lake Kinneret is so-called because it is shaped like a harp, the name Kinneret originates from the word ‘kinnor’ which means harp. The lake is also known on modern maps as Lake Galilee or Lake Tiberius. The name Galilee derives from where it is located.

The Kinneret supplies more than 30% of Israel's fresh water. It is the lowest fresh water lake in the world! It is a beautiful lake and Israel’s largest reservoir. In the hot summer you can see thousands of people enjoying themselves on the Kinneret. During the winter time, people like to try the hot springs in the town of Tiberias.

Lake Kinneret is Israel's largest fresh water lake, approximately 53 kilometers (33 miles) in circumference, about 21km (13 miles) long and 13km (8 miles) wide. At 213 meters below sea level, it is the lowest fresh water lake on Earth and the second lowest point in the world after the Dead Sea. It is not a sea by normal definition; it is called a sea due to tradition. Lake Kinneret provides approximately 50% of the drinking water and 25% of all water for , so the water quality, and hence, the water circulation, is of the utmost importance.
..............
The lowest point on earth is located on the SHORE of the Dead Sea, on the Israel-Jordan border. The altitude of this point ranges from 394 meters (1,292 ft.) to 400 meters (1,312 ft.) below sea level. Time is the reason this value has changed. With the low replenishment rate, extreme heat, and high evaporation, the level of the Dead Sea is lowering at a rate of approximately 1 meter every 10 years.

10-  From IslamiCity.com with pictures of found corpses:

 

The people of Lut rejected (his) warning. We sent against them a violent Tornado with showers of stones, (which destroyed them), except Lut's household: them We delivered by early Dawn,-  As a Grace from Us: thus do We reward those who give thanks. And (Lut) did warn them of Our Punishment, but they disputed about the Warning. (Surat al-Qamar:, 33-36)

Lut lived at the same time as Ibrahim. The Old Testament says that Lut was Ibrahim's nephew and that they travelled some distance together in Ibrahim's long journeys. 

Lut was sent as a messenger to one of Ibrahim's neighbouring communities. These people, as the Qur’an tells us, practiced a perversion unknown to the world up to then, namely sodomy. When Lut told them to give up this perversion and brought them Allah's warning, they denied him, refused his prophethood, and carried on with their perversion. In the end, these people were destroyed by a dreadful disaster.

The city where Lut resided is referred to as Sodom in the Old Testament. Being situated at the north of the Red Sea, this community is understood to have been destroyed just as it is written in the Qur’an. Archaeological studies reveal that the city is located in the area of the Dead Sea which stretches along the Israel-Jordan border. 

Before examining the remains of this disaster, let’s see why the people of Lut were punished in this fashion. The Qur’an tells how Lut warned his people and what they said in reply; 

The people of Lut rejected the messengers. Behold, their brother Lut said to them: “Will ye not fear (Allah)? I am to you a messenger worthy of all trust. So fear Allah and obey me. No reward do I ask of you for it: my reward is only from the lord of the Worlds. Of all the creatures in the world, will ye approach males, And leave those whom Allah has created for you to be your mates? Nay, ye are a people transgressing (all limits)!” 
They said: “If thou desist not, O Lut! thou wilt assuredly be cast out!” 
He said: “I do detest your doings.” (Surat ash-Shuara: 160-168)

The people of Lut threatened him in response to his inviting them to the right way. His people detested him because of his showing them the right way, and wanted to banish both him and the other believers beside him. In other verses, the event is told as follows; 

We also (sent) Lut: He said to his people: “Do ye commit lewdness such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you? For ye practise your lusts on men in preference to women : ye are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds.”
And his people gave no answer but this: they said, “Drive them out of your city: these are indeed men who want to be clean and pure!” (Surat al-Araf: 80-82) 

Lut called his people to an obvious truth and warned them explicitly, but his people did not heed any warnings whatsoever and continued to reject Lut and to deny the penalty of which he told them. 

And (remember) Lut: behold, he said to his people: “Ye do commit lewdness, such as no people in Creation (ever) committed before you. Do ye indeed approach men, and cut off the highway?- and practise wickedness (even) in your councils?” But his people gave no answer but this: they said: “Bring us the Wrath of Allah if thou tellest the truth.” (Surat al-Ankaboot: 28-29)

Receiving the above answer from his people, Lut asked for the help of Allah, 

He said: “O my Lord! help Thou me against people who do mischief!” (Surat al-Ankaboot: 30)

“O my Lord! deliver me and my family from such things as they do!” (Surat ash-Shuara: 169)

Upon Lut’s prayer, Allah sent two angels in the form of men. These angels visited Ibrahim before coming to Lut. Giving Ibrahim the good news that his wife would give birth to an infant, the messengers explained the reason of their being sent: the insolent people of Lut were to be destroyed. 

(Ibrahim) said: “And what, O ye Messengers, is your errand (now)?” They said, “We have been sent to a people (deep) in sin; To bring on, on them, (a shower of) stones of clay (brimstone), Marked as from thy Lord for those who trespass beyond bounds.” (Surat adh-Dhariyat: 31-34)

Excepting the adherents of Lut: them we are certainly (charged) to save (from harm),- All - Except his wife, who, We have ascertained, will be among those who will lag behind. (Surat al-Hijr: 59-60)

After leaving Ibrahim’s company, the angels, who were sent as messengers, came to Lut. Not having met the messengers before, Lut first became anxious, but then calmed down after talking  to them; 

When Our messengers came to Lut, he was grieved on their account and felt himself powerless (to protect) them. He said: “This is a distressful day.” (Surah Hud: 77)

He said: “Ye appear to be uncommon folk.” They said: “Yea, we have come to thee to accomplish that of which they doubt. We have brought to thee that which is inevitably due, and assuredly we tell the truth. Then travel by night with thy household, when a portion of the night (yet remains), and do thou bring up the rear: let no one amongst you look back, but pass on whither ye are ordered.” And We made known this decree to him, that the last remnants of those (sinners) should be cut off by the morning. (Surat al-Hijr: 62-66)

Meanwhile, his people had learned that Lut had visitors. They did not hesitate to approach these visitors perversely as they had approached others before. They encircled the house. Being afraid for his visitors, Lut addressed his people as follows; 

Lut said: “These are my guests: disgrace me not: But fear Allah, and shame me not.” (Surat al-Hijr: 68-69)

The people of Lut retorted;

They said: “Did we not forbid thee (to speak) for all and sundry?” (Surat al-Hijr: 70)

Thinking that he and his visitors subjected to evil treatment, Lut said: 

“Would that I had power to suppress you or that I could betake myself to some powerful support.” (Surah Hud: 80)

His “visitors” reminded him that they were the messengers of Allah and said; 

(The Messengers) said: “O Lut! We are Messengers from thy Lord! By no means shall they reach thee! now travel with thy family while yet a part of the night remains, and let not any of you look back: but thy wife (will remain behind): To her will happen what happens to the people. Morning is their time appointed: Is not the morning nigh?” (Surah Hud: 81)

When the perversity of the city people reached its fullest extent, Allah saved Lut by means of the angels. In the morning, his people were destroyed by the disaster of which Lut had informed them in advance. 

And they even sought to snatch away his guests from him, but We blinded their eyes. (They heard:) “Now taste ye My Wrath and My Warning.” Early on the morrow an abiding Punishment seized them: (Surat al-Qamar: 37-38)

The verses describe the destruction of this people as follows; 

But the (mighty) Blast overtook them before morning, And We turned (the cities) upside down, and rained down on them brimstones hard as baked clay. Behold! in this are Signs for those who by tokens do understand. And the (cities were) right on the high-road. (Surat al-Hijr: 73-76)

When Our Decree issued, We turned (the cities) upside down, and rained down on them brimstones hard as baked clay, spread, layer on layer,-Marked as from thy Lord: Nor are they ever far from those who do wrong! (Surah Hud: 82-83)

But the rest We destroyed utterly. We rained down on them a shower (of brimstone): and evil was the shower on those who were admonished (but heeded not)! : Verily in this is a Sign: but most of them do not believe. And verily thy Lord is He, the Exalted in Might, Most Merciful. (Surat ash-Shuara: 172-175)

When the people were destroyed, only Lut and the believers, who were only as many as one “household”, were saved. Lut’s wife did not believe either and she was also destroyed. 

We also (sent) Lut: He said to his people: “Do ye commit lewdness such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you? 
For ye practise your lusts on men in preference to women : ye are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds.”
And his people gave no answer but this: they said, “Drive them out of your city: these are indeed men who want to be clean and pure!”
But we saved him and his family, except his wife: she was of those who legged behind.
And we rained down on them a shower (of brimstone): Then see what was the end of those who indulged in sin and crime! (Surat al-Araf: 80-84)

Thus, Prophet Lut was saved along with the believers and his family with the exception of his wife. As described in the Old Testament, he emigrated with Ibrahim. As for the perverted people, they were destroyed and their dwellings were razed to the ground. 

11-  From http://www.harunyahya.com/pernat13.php:

(This link was forwarded to me by brother Mahir Karaosmanovic; may Allah Almighty always be pleased with him)

The People of Lut (as) And The City which was Turned Upside Down  The people of Lut rejected (his) warning. We sent against them a violent Tornado with showers of stones, (which destroyed them), except Lut's household: them We delivered by early Dawn,- As a Grace from Us: thus do We reward those who give thanks. And (Lut) did warn them of Our Punishment, but they disputed about the Warning. (Surat al-Qamar: 33-36) Both Lut (as)and Ibrahim (as) lived at the same time. Lut (as) was sent as a messenger to one of Ibrahim's (as) neighbouring communities. These people, as the Qur’an tells us, practiced a perversion unknown to the world up till then, namely sodomy. When Lut (as) told them to give up this perversion and brought them Allah's warning, they denied him, refused his prophethood, and carried on with their perversion. In the end, these people were destroyed by a dreadful disaster. The city where Lut (as) resided is referred to as Sodom in the Old Testament. Being situated to the north of the Red Sea, this community is understood to have been destroyed just as it is written in the Qur’an. Archaeological studies reveal that the city is located in the area of the Dead Sea which stretches along the Palestine-Jordan border. Before examining the remains of this disaster, we shall examine why the people of Lut (as) were punished in this fashion. The Qur’an tells how Lut (as) warned his people and what they said in reply; The people of Lut rejected the messengers. Behold, their brother Lut said to them: "Will ye not fear (Allah)? I am to you a messenger worthy of all trust. So fear Allah and obey me. No reward do I ask of you for it: my reward is only from the lord of the Worlds. Of all the creatures in the world, will ye approach males, And leave those whom Allah has created for you to be your mates? Nay, ye are a people transgressing (all limits)!" They said: "If thou desist not, O Lut! thou wilt assuredly be cast out!" He said: "I do detest your doings." (Surat ash-Shu’ara: 160-168) The people of Lut (as) threatened him in response to his inviting them to the right way. His people detested him because of his showing them the right way, and wanted to banish both him and the other believers beside him. In other verses, the event is told as follows: We also (sent) Lut: He said to his people: "Do ye commit lewdness such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you? For ye practise your lusts on men in preference to women: ye are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds." And his people gave no answer but this: they said, "Drive them out of your city: these are indeed men who want to be clean and pure!" (Surat al-A‘raf: 80-82) Lut (as)called his people to an obvious truth and warned them explicitly, but his people did not heed any warnings whatsoever and continued to reject him and to deny the penalty of which he told them. And (remember) Lut: "Behold" he said to his people: "Ye do commit lewdness, such as no people in Creation (ever) committed before you. Do ye indeed approach men, and cut off the highway? And practise wickedness (even) in your councils?" But his people gave no answer but this: they said: "Bring us the Wrath of Allah if thou tellest the truth." (Surat al-Ankaboot: 28-29) Receiving the above answer from his people, Lut asked for the help of Allah, He said: "O my Lord! help Thou me against people who do mischief!" (Surat al-Ankaboot: 30) "O my Lord! deliver me and my family from such things as they do!" (Surat ash-Shu’ara: 169) Upon Lut’s (as) prayer, Allah sent two angels in the form of men. These angels visited Ibrahim (as)before coming to Lut (as). Giving Ibrahim (as) the good news that his wife would give birth to an infant, the messengers explained the reason for their being sent: the insolent people of Lut (as) were to be destroyed. (Ibrahim) said: "And what, O ye Messengers, is your errand (now)?" They said, "We have been sent to a people (deep) in sin; To bring on, on them, (a shower of) stones of clay (brimstone), Marked as from thy Lord for those who trespass beyond bounds." (Surat adh-Dhariyat: 31-34) Excepting the adherents of Lut: them we are certainly (charged) to save (from harm) - All - Except his wife, who, We have ascertained, will be among those who will lag behind. (Surat al-Hijr: 59-60) After leaving Ibrahim’s (as) company, the angels, who were sent as messengers, came to Lut (as). Not having recognised the messengers, Lut (as) first became anxious, but then understood that they were sent by Allah: When Our messengers came to Lut, he was grieved on their account and felt himself powerless (to protect) them. He said: "This is a distressful day." (Surah Hud: 77) He said: "Ye appear to be uncommon folk." They said: "Yea, we have come to thee to accomplish that of which they doubt. We have brought to thee that which is inevitably due, and assuredly we tell the truth. Then travel by night with thy household, when a portion of the night (yet remains), and do thou bring up the rear: let no one amongst you look back, but pass on whither ye are ordered." And We made known this decree to him, that the last remnants of those (sinners) should be cut off by the morning. (Surat al-Hijr: 62-66) Meanwhile, his people had learned that Lut (as) had visitors. They did not hesitate to approach these visitors perversely as they had approached others before. They encircled the house. Being afraid for his visitors, Lut (as) addressed his people as follows: Lut said: "These are my guests: disgrace me not: But fear Allah, and shame me not." (Surat al-Hijr: 68-69) The people of Lut retorted: They said: "Did we not forbid thee (to speak) for all and sundry?" (Surat al-Hijr: 70) Thinking that he and his visitors subjected to evil treatment, Lut said: "Would that I had power to suppress you or that I could betake myself to some powerful support." (Surah Hud: 80) His "visitors" reminded him that they were the messengers of Allah and said: (The Messengers) said: "O Lut! We are Messengers from thy Lord! By no means shall they reach thee! now travel with thy family while yet a part of the night remains, and let not any of you look back: but thy wife (will remain behind): To her will happen what happens to the people. Morning is their time appointed: Is not the morning nigh?" (Surah Hud: 81) When the perversity of the city people reached its fullest extent, Allah saved Lut (as) by means of the angels. In the morning, his people were destroyed by the disaster of which Lut (as) had informed them in advance. And they even sought to snatch away his guests from him, but We blinded their eyes. (They heard:) "Now taste ye My Wrath and My Warning." Early on the morrow an abiding Punishment seized them. (Surat al-Qamar: 37-38) The verses describe the destruction of this people as follows: But the (mighty) Blast overtook them before morning, And We turned (the cities) upside down, and rained down on them brimstones hard as baked clay. Behold! in this are Signs for those who by tokens do understand. And the (cities were) right on the high-road. (Surat al-Hijr: 73-76) When Our Decree issued, We turned (the cities) upside down, and rained down on them brimstones hard as baked clay, spread, layer on layer,-Marked as from thy Lord: Nor are they ever far from those who do wrong! (Surah Hud: 82-83) But the rest We destroyed utterly. We rained down on them a shower (of brimstone): and evil was the shower on those who were admonished (but heeded not)! : Verily in this is a Sign: but most of them do not believe. And verily thy Lord is He, the Exalted in Might, Most Merciful. (Surat ash-Shu’ara: 172-175) When the people were destroyed, only Lut (as) and the believers, who were only as many as one "household", were saved. Lut’s (as) wife did not believe either and she was also destroyed. We also (sent) Lut: He said to his people: "Do ye commit lewdness such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you? For ye practice your lusts on men in preference to women: ye are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds." And his people gave no answer but this: they said, "Drive them out of your city: these are indeed men who want to be clean and pure!" But we saved him and his family, except his wife: she was of those who legged behind. And we rained down on them a shower (of brimstone): Then see what was the end of those who indulged in sin and crime! (Surat al-A‘raf: 80-84) Thus, Prophet Lut (as) was saved along with the believers and his family with the exception of his wife. As described in the Old Testament, he emigrated with Ibrahim (as). As for the perverted people, they were destroyed and their dwellings were razed to the ground. “The Obvious Signs” in the Lake of Lut One of the verses of Surah Hud clearly states the kind of disaster that befell the people of Lut (as). "When Our Decree issued, We turned (the cities) upside down, and rained down on them brimstones hard as baked clay, spread, layer on layer". (Surah Hud: 82) A satellite photograph of the region where the people of Lut (as) lived. The statement of "turning (the cities) upside down" implies that the region was totally destroyed by a violent earthquake. Accordingly, The Lake of Lut, where the destruction took place, bears "obvious" evidence of such a disaster. We quote German archaeologist Werner Keller:  Together with the base of this mighty fissure, which runs precisely through this area, the Vale of Siddim, including Sodom and Gomorrah, plunged one day into the abyss. Their destruction came about through a great earthquake which was probably accompanied by explosions, lightning, issue of natural gas and general conflagration.13 As a matter of fact, the Lake of Lut, or the Dead Sea as it is otherwise known, is located right on the top of an active seismic region, that is, an earthquake zone: The base of the dead sea is located with a tectonic rooted downfall. This valley is located in a tension stretching between the Taberiye Lake in the north, and mid of Arabah Valley in the south.14   The Lake of Lut, or Dead Sea as otherwise called. The event was expressed as "we rained down on them brimstones hard as baked clay, spread, layer on layer" in the last part of the verse. This is in all probability meant to be the volcanic explosion that took place on the banks of the Lake of Lut, and because of which the rocks and stones that erupted were in a "baked form". (The same event is related in the verse 173 of Surat ash-Shu’ara as "We rained down on them a shower (of brimstone): and evil was the shower on those who were admonished (but heeded not)!") In relation to this subject, Werner Keller writes:   The subsidence released volcanic forces that had been lying dormant deep down along the whole length of the fracture. In the upper valley of the Jordan near Bashan there are still towering craters of extinct volcanoes; great stretches of lava and deep layers of basalt have been deposited on the limestone surface. 15 An illustration showing the volcanic eruption and the collapse that followed it, which caused the whole people to disappear. These lava and basalt layers constitute the greatest evidence that a volcanic explosion and earthquake had once taken place here. The catastrophe depicted in the following expression as "we rained down on them brimstones hard as baked clay, spread, layer on layer" in the Qur’an most probably points to this volcanic explosion, and Allah knows best. The expression "When Our Decree issued, We turned (the cities) upside down" which occurs in the same verse, must be referring to the earthquake which caused volcanoes to erupt over the surface of the earth with devastating impact, and to the fissures and debris brought by it, and only Allah knows the truth of it. The "obvious signs" conveyed by the Lake of Lut are indeed very interesting. In general, the events which are related in the Qur’an take place in the Middle East, the Arabian Peninsula and Egypt. Right in the middle of these lands, is the Lake of Lut. The Lake of Lut, as well as the incidents that have taken place around it, deserves attention geologically. The Lake is approximately 400 metres below the surface of the Mediterranean. Since the deepest point in the Lake is 400 metres, the bottom of the Lake is 800 metres below the surface of the Mediterranean. This is the lowest point on the earth. In other areas which are lower than sea level, the depth is at most 100 metres. Another property of the Lake of Lut is that the salt content of its water is very high, the density being nearly 30%. Because of this, no living organism, such as fish or moss, can survive in this lake. This is why the Lake of Lut is called the "Dead Sea" in Western literature.